I met a little girl in Knoxville the town we all know well
And every Sunday evening out in her home I'd dwell
We went to take an evening walk about a mile from town
I picked a stick up off the ground and knocked that fair girl down

She fell down on her bended knees for mercy she did cry
Oh well my dear don't kill me dear I'm not prepare to die
She never spoke another word I only beat her more
Until the ground around me with inner blood did flow

I took her by her golden curles and I dragged her round and round
Throwing her into the river that flows through Knoxville town
Go down go down you Knoxville girl with the dark and roving eyes
Go down go down you Knoxville girl you can never be my bride
[ steel ]
I started back to Knoxville got there about midnight
My mother she was worried and broke up in her pride
Saying dear son what have you done too bloody your clothes so
I told my attention mother I was bleeding at my nose

I called for me a candle to light myself to bed
I called for me a handkerchief to bind my aching head
Rolled and tumbled the whole night through as trouble was for me
Like flames of hell around my bed and in my eyes could see

They carried me down to Knoxville and put me in a cell
My friends all tried to get me out but none could go my bail
I'm here to waste my life away down in this dirty old jail
Because I murdered that Knoxville girl the girl I loved so well